1966 World Cup triumph to be commemorated with national memory project

Cause UK is providing PR and media support to Sporting Memories, a social enterprise which uses the power of sport to tackle loneliness, isolation and dementia. 2016 marks the 50th anniversary…

Cause UK is providing PR and media support to Sporting Memories, a social enterprise which uses the power of sport to tackle loneliness, isolation and dementia.

2016 marks the 50th anniversary of England winning the 1966 World Cup.  Former players from 1966 launched a national memory project at 11am on 5th January at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington.

The players, Cohen, Banks, Peters and Hurst posed with the Jules Rimet Trophy (pictured).

The #memoriesof66 project is in partnership with the Sporting Memories Network, the Heritage Lottery, the FA and the National Football Museum.  Its aim is to use the power of football to reduce loneliness and isolation in the elderly.  The Nation is being asked to submit their 1966 memories and memorabilia to help form a special 1966 exhibition commemorating the World Cup at the National Football Museum (NFM) in Manchester and at Wembley this summer. A major focus will be around collecting the memories of players, fans and ordinary people affected by the famous World Cup win. The Sporting Memories Network will work alongside NFM to record and collect the memories to feature in the exhibition and an accompanying website.

Tony Jameson-Allen, Co-founder and Director of the Sporting Memories Network, said: “At Sporting Memories we use the concept that stories and memories not only hold the power to reignite connections between generations, but help combat the debilitating effects of dementia, depression and loneliness. This landmark exhibition will collect and develop memories of 1966 to help enhance communication, engagement and memory skills for older people. We’ve worked with hundreds of organisations in our communities to engage those who are elderly and isolated. The 1996 World Cup is such an historic occasion, we’re incredibly excited to see the positive, wide-impact this project will have.”

NFM director Kevin Moore said: “It’s fitting that 50 years after the most memorable event in the England football team’s history we look back on the seismic effects of the tournament on the whole country.”

“We will be working hard with Sporting Memories and The FA to develop a very special exhibition that will reflect the mood of the country at the time and the legacy of English football staging and ultimately winning the tournament. We’re delighted that, thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund we are able to do this; we’re confident that this will be one of the most popular and wide reaching exhibitions we have produced.”

The Sporting Memories Network is a social enterprise that supports older people across the UK living with dementia, depression and loneliness by engaging them in social activities and helping them to recall memories of watching or playing sport.

Their work aims to challenge stereotypical views of ageing and mental health issues, to reduce stigma around issues like dementia and depression and to help reduce loneliness and enable older people to live well. Groups are set up in partnerships with organisations such local authorities and sporting bodies who wish to engage with those who are hard to reach in their local community. They work together across generations to establish effective solutions on how to target and engage older people. SMN provide the training and the resources for volunteers and people within these organisations to run groups, making sure they have the knowledge, understanding and skills to deliver meaningful sessions which will benefit participants. So far they have worked with over 400 different organisations and trained over 500 volunteers and members of staff.

Sporting Memories was awarded:  Best National Dementia Friendly Initiative 2014 by Alzheimer’s Society and Best Football Community Scheme Football Business Awards 2014.

The Sporting Memories Foundation is a registered charity Number 1154474

http://www.sportingmemoriesnetwork.com

 Fact File

  •  One in four older people are at risk of experiencing low mood or depression. Over 40% of care home residents live with depression.
  • In England 51% of all people over 75 live alone and 1,000,000 older people say the television is their main form of company. Social Isolation has been identified as having the same negative health impacts as alcohol and likened to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
  • 850,000 people live with dementia in the UK.